The Welsh National Opera arts and health program, “Wellness with WNO,” has announced that it will be expanding as a rehabilitation service for other health conditions. The program which was launched during COVID will include people living with persistent pain and myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). “Wellness with WNO” is Wales’ first national socially prescribed program, developed with and {…}
Equity members of the Chorus at Welsh National Opera have agreed to postpone planned strike action set for Nov. 15, but will continue with other industrial action. Chorus members held an Equity meeting on Nov. 8 to discuss the latest proposals from management. They agreed to change strike action to action short of strike on Nov. 15, to allow for {…}
The Chorus of the Welsh National Opera will pause its strike action to allow progress to be made in future talks. The Equity Members in the ensemble had scheduled a strike action for Oct. 11. Instead the members will wear t-shirts saying #SaveOurWNO #AchubOCC during the performance of “Opera Favourites at the Movies.” They will also leaflet audience members prior {…}
Equity members in the chorus of the Welsh National Opera have paused their strike action. The strikes were set for Sept. 21 and 29, 2024, but the plan was halted following conversations with Welsh National Opera management this past week. No deal has been struck, but now the two sides will have more time for further discussion and members voted {…}
Equity, the trade union representing the Welsh National Opera Chorus, has managed to obtain 1,000 signatures for an open letter to the Chair of the Welsh National Opera’s Board of Directors calling for support in its negotiations with the company’s management. The letter asks Chair Yvette Vaughn Jones to “intervene with management to save jobs, livelihoods and a treasured part {…}
Equity, the performing arts and entertainment industry, has called for strike action at the Welsh National Opera. The strike is set to take place on Sept. 21, 2024 during the opening night performance of “Rigoletto” with subsequent strikes set for Sept. 29 performance of “Il Trittico” and Oct. 11’s “Opera Favourites at the Movies.” The announcement follows a 93 percent {…}
The Welsh National Opera has announce its trio of new Associate Artists for the 2024-25 season. Joining the company in Sept. are Welsh sopranos Erin Rossington and Eiry Price, and British bass William Stevens. The group will receive training, support, and gain experience with roles in operas, concerts and WNO’s community and engagement work. Rossington performed the role of Madam {…}
On August 20, 2024, The Welsh National Opera’s choristers began balloting for strike action over proposals to cut jobs and pay by 15 percent. According to Equity Union, the company’s plans to reduce the chorus will bring the “real threat of compulsory redundancies.” The union said, “We will not accept compulsory redundancies or the desire of WNO management to make contracts {…}
The orchestra members of the Welsh National Opera voted in favor of a potential strike. Per The Strad, 81.25 percent of members voted for full strike action and 96.87 voted for action short of a strike. The vote was made following “threats” that full-time jobs at the company would be reduced to 85 percent contracts. Moreover, the company had revealed {…}
The Welsh National Opera has announced that Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree will be jointly taking on the role of General Director and CEO starting this coming January. Thomas has established herself as a major opera director who has led productions at Glyndebourne, Opernhaus Zürich, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the London Handel Festival, and Northern Ireland Opera. Her {…}
The Welsh National Opera has announced a new community project “Ely Bridge,” presented in collaboration with BAFTA award-winning actress Rakie Ayola. The work is presented in commemoration of the anniversary of the unrest that occured in Ely and Caerau when riots broke out following the bike crash and death of two boys who had been pursued by a police car. {…}